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Fixed Gear Conversion, chain pops off. I know, another chain tension question.

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Singlespeed & Fixed Gear "I still feel that variable gears are only for people over forty-five. Isn't it better to triumph by the strength of your muscles than by the artifice of a derailer? We are getting soft...As for me, give me a fixed gear!"-- Henri Desgrange (31 January 1865 - 16 August 1940)

Fixed Gear Conversion, chain pops off. I know, another chain tension question.

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Old 04-20-15, 05:52 PM
  #1  
Bair
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Fixed Gear Conversion, chain pops off. I know, another chain tension question.

So I just converted by Raleigh Super Record to Fixed. Just pulled of the cassette and threw on a fixed cog and a lockring and then took off a chainring. My chain keeps popping off, and not off the chainring, always off the cog. I take a few pedal strokes out of my driveway and then I hear a sort of grinding noise, and then 2 seconds later my chain comes off and I'm not moving. I have a decent chainline at 3ish mm, I don't think that's the problem. Could the problem be because I have a super high ratio (52-16)? I also still have a 10 speed chain on (since the chainring is meant for a 3/32 chain). And I'm tensioning my chain pretty tight so it won't fall off. Any suggestions or past experiences would help a lot.

Thanks
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Old 04-20-15, 07:57 PM
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You could possibly be using a 3/32 chain on a ⅛ cog.
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Old 04-20-15, 08:19 PM
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Originally Posted by franswa
You could possibly be using a 3/32 chain on a ⅛ cog.
its a 3/32 rear cog. I read 10 speed chains are 6.2mm wide and ss chains are approx 7.3mm, so i think that's the problem, thanks franswa
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Old 04-20-15, 08:30 PM
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Originally Posted by Bair
its a 3/32 rear cog. I read 10 speed chains are 6.2mm wide and ss chains are approx 7.3mm, so i think that's the problem, thanks franswa
That's the overall width, and is irrelevant. The inner width of the inner link is 3/32" (2.4mm) on both chains.
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Old 04-20-15, 10:08 PM
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You need to dish the wheel or buy a fixed gear specific wheel
Good luck
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Old 04-20-15, 10:42 PM
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If you're using the outer chainring along with a fixed cog where a 5-speed freewheel used to be, there's no way your chainline is as "decent" as you think it is.
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Old 04-20-15, 11:15 PM
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Originally Posted by ThermionicScott
If you're using the outer chainring along with a fixed cog where a 5-speed freewheel used to be, there's no way your chainline is as "decent" as you think it is.
It was 5mm and then respaced to about 3mm chainline variation. Ill do some stuff tmrw and hopefully it works, maybe ill try a new chain.
Thx
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Old 04-20-15, 11:27 PM
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Don't adjust your chain too tight. This will actually make the problem worse.
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Old 04-21-15, 02:41 AM
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My old 10-speed (5-speed cassette) is about 13mm off as standard on the outer ring and 7mm off on the inner ring. Have you tried measuring the chainline or is the 3mm based upon eye-sight?
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Old 04-21-15, 09:27 AM
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Are you using Axle nuts or a QR? The only time I've ever thrown a chain is when I was new to fixed gear and under tightened the nuts.

Originally Posted by Bair
So I just converted by Raleigh Super Record to Fixed. Just pulled of the cassette and threw on a fixed cog and a lockring and then took off a chainring. My chain keeps popping off, and not off the chainring, always off the cog. I take a few pedal strokes out of my driveway and then I hear a sort of grinding noise, and then 2 seconds later my chain comes off and I'm not moving. I have a decent chainline at 3ish mm, I don't think that's the problem. Could the problem be because I have a super high ratio (52-16)? I also still have a 10 speed chain on (since the chainring is meant for a 3/32 chain). And I'm tensioning my chain pretty tight so it won't fall off. Any suggestions or past experiences would help a lot.

Thanks
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Old 04-21-15, 09:41 AM
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I measured it to be 3mm
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Old 04-21-15, 09:43 AM
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When I get home I'll tighten the nuts. I'm convinced it's not chain line or the chain, since it's not stretched and it's a 10 speed chain on a 3/32 cog
Thx Alex
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Old 04-21-15, 03:59 PM
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Originally Posted by Bair
When I get home I'll tighten the nuts. I'm convinced it's not chain line or the chain, since it's not stretched and it's a 10 speed chain on a 3/32 cog
Thx Alex
On that note, I remember another dumb noob mistake I made on an early conversion was grabbing the wrong sized axle nuts from my parts drawer. I find that many times when I think that something is a complicated fix, that the solution is beyond simple. Good luck!
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Old 04-21-15, 06:05 PM
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Originally Posted by AlexGS1
On that note, I remember another dumb noob mistake I made on an early conversion was grabbing the wrong sized axle nuts from my parts drawer. I find that many times when I think that something is a complicated fix, that the solution is beyond simple. Good luck!
My bike works again! Hopefully
The weirdest thing happened, my chain line was near perfect when I respaced, today I un-respaced and I tightened the bolts so hard that I was sweating. My chain wasn't coming off before the respace, and isn't after the un-respace. Lesson learned: don't fix it if it isn't broke.

thx guys
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